Academy of Notre Dame’s Tori Abruzzo is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The freshman swimmer set three Academy of Notre Dame records and got All American cuts at the recent Easterns in the 200 medley relay (1:43.48, freestyle anchor split 23.50); 100 fly (54.73, third place at Easterns) and the 100 back (54.02, second place and a Junior National cut). She also helped the Irish post an All-American consideration time in the 400 free relay (her split was 51.69).
Q: What is your favorite memory of this year’s Easterns?
A: My favorite memory is when our 200 medley relay team got second place because none of us knew we would swim that fast and drop so much time from that morning.
Q: You mentioned that your best swim at Easterns was the 100 back. What was the key to your performance in that event?
A: The fact that my team was cheering for me the entire time.
Q: Academy of Notre Dame swim coach Brigit Barry mentioned that you are an extremely versatile swimmer. What aspect of your swimming did you work on most during the past off-season?
A: In the off season I like to work on my technique for all four of the strokes by doing drills and improving the small details like my underwaters, turns and breakouts.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in competitive swimming. What swimming accomplishment outside of Academy of Notre Dame are you most proud of?
A: My older brother and sister both swam and I wanted to swim too. It was nice because they are able to help me and give me advice. My favorite swimming accomplishment outside of NDA that I am most proud of is all of the friends that I have made from not only school in the Inter-Ac but all over the country from traveling to different USA swimming meets.
Q: Your sister Mia, who school record you broke in the 100 fly at Easterns, is now swimming for the University of Georgia (and was a Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week last year). What have been the most important things about swimming that you have learned from her?
A: The most important thing I’ve learned about swimming from Mia is that if you work hard and never give up you can accomplish anything.
Q: What is your favorite swimming venue, and why?
A: The University of Maryland – my favorite meet, the IMAX Challenge Meet, was there.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-meet preparation on the day of a meet.
A: Just to stay relaxed and have fun because I always swim my fastest when I am having fun.
Q: Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at Academy of Notre Dame other than swimming?
A: I am a Student Ambassador and I’m also in the Baking Club.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Academy of Notre Dame? What do you think you’d like to major in at college?
Q: My favorite academic course at Notre Dame is math. I’d like to major in psychology.
Fun facts – Tori Abruzzo
Favorite book: Little Women.
Favorite TV show: Gossip Girl.
Favorite movie: 10 Things I Hate About You.
Favorite athlete: Brady Tierney.
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: All Night Longer.
Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.
Favorite place to visit: Ocean City, N.J.
Favorite pre-meet meal: açaí bowls.
The person I most admire, and why: “I admire my older brother Andrew and my older sister Mia because they have succeeded so much in swimming.”
Family: parents Joe and Karen, older brother Andrew, older sister Mia, younger sister Gabi.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
